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The present Queen was not expected to succeed to the throne. Her father was the second son of George V and younger brother to Edward, Prince of Wales.

Prince Edward of York was born at White Lodge, Richmond, the home of his maternal grandparents, on June 23, 1894, thus confirming what appeared to be the happy situation of Queen Victoria with three generations of male heirs. The four were duly photographed together. But there were to be further twists in the succession.

The leader of the newly formed Independent Labour Party, Keir Hardie, caused a furore in the Commons when

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It is May 1926, and a 25-year-old Duchess of York — later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother — looks at her first daughter, Princess Elizabeth, born the previous month

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Speaight/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

It is May 1926, and a 25-year-old Duchess of York — later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother — looks at her first daughter, Princess Elizabeth, born the previous month

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Speaight/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The Duchess of York with her baby daughter Princess Elizabeth in 1926

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Bob Thomas/Popperfoto/Getty Images

The Duchess of York (later the Queen Mother) with the two princesses Margaret Rose and Elizabeth

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 SSPL/Getty Images

The Duke and Duchess of York, later King George VI and the Queen Mother, with their baby girl Princess Elizabeth

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Popperfoto/Getty Images

The official christening portrait of Princess Anne with her mother and father in 1950. The infant is dressed in the historic Honiton lace gown worn by generations of the Royal Family

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Baron/Camera Press

Prince Andrew was born ten years later, and Prince Edward in 1964; the two princes are pictured with their parents during Trooping the Colour that year

2013-07-22 23:58:49.402 Fox Photos/Getty Images

It’s 1951 and Prince Philip and Princess Elizabeth build up their baby-lugging biceps with Prince Charles and Princess Anne respectively